MANGOS OF CUBA 




By 
WILSON POPEMOE, 

Washington, D. C. 



A PAPER READ BEFORE THE AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCI- 
ETY AT THE BERKELEY MEETING, SEPTEMBER, 1915. 
(PLATES.) 




SEEDLING TREE OF THE MANGA RACE, NEAR SANTIAGO DE LAS VEGAS. 




OLD SEEDLING TREES OF THE MANGO RACE, NEAR SANTIAGO 
DE LAS VEGAS. 



• 



THE MANGOS OF CUBA. 



Wilson Popenoe, Washington, D. C 



Cuba must be numbered among those tropical countries in which 
the mango is King of Fruits. Whether one grants that it is the 
finest fruit in the island — and there is no lack of Cubans who will 
affirm this to be a fact — one is forced to admit that it is by far the 
most abundant. It springs up on all sides, wherever a seed chances 
to fall upon favorable ground, forming a large, handsome tree which 
embellishes the landscape and provides in the summer months a 
wealth of luscious fruit. 

It is but natural that there should be found, among the innumer- 
able seedling trees scattered over the island, a number of distinct 
races and types. It has long been recognized, in certain parts of 
the tropics, that many seedling mangos come more or less "true to 
type" when propagated from seed, and because of this fact the 
natives have learned to recognize certain of the best defined types 
and have distinguished them with varietal names. With the avo- 
cado, another fruit extensively grown in Cuba, this is not the case ; 
seedling forms are innumerable, but names are not used to dis- 
tinguish the different ones, probably because it has been learned 
that the offspring of a superior tree do not reproduce the charac- 
teristics of the parent to any extent, and because no well defined 
classes of seedlings can be pointed out. 

With mangos a different state of affairs obtains. The best known 
seedling races and types, such as mango* manga amarilla and 
manga blanca, are recognizable by anyone who has the least 
familiarity with the fruit, and there can be do doubt but that seed- 
lings of these classes will, in the majority of cases, reproduce the 
characteristics of the parent to a great enough extent to make them 
recognizable as belonging to the same type as the parent. We must 
admit the possibility, for the time being, that occasional seedlings 
may depart from the type, perhaps because of cross pollination, 
perhaps because of some other cause. Occasional aberrant forms 
are found in Cuba which can only be accounted for by some such 
explanation as cross pollination. On the whole, however, it can be 
considered that the various races and types described in this paper 



•To those unfamiliar with the popular classification of mangos in Cuba, it may 
seem peculiar that this name, which properly belongs to all fruits of Mangifera indica, 
should be used to distinguish a race. It must be explained that the natives commonly 
divide mangos into two classes, which they distinguish by the names of mango and 
manga, the masculine and feminine forms of the word. It has been thought best, there- 
fore, to retain this name in its Cuban application. 




VENDOR OF MANGOS, GUANAJAY. THE FRUITS ARE SEEDLINGS 
OF THE MANGO RACE. 



come true from seed, in so far as concerns the characteristics which 
distinguish the group. 

This peculiar characteristic of coming true from seed, a thing 
very rare among tree fruits, must be attributed in seedling mangos 
to polyembryony, a phenomenon which has long been known to oc- 
cur in mangos. While it has never been thoroughly studied, and 
much remains to be learned about it, the investigations of Belling 
have thrown considerable light on the subject. Belling, working 
at the Florida Experiment Station in 1908, found that in one race 
of mangos, known as No. 11 in Florida and Jamaica, mango in 
Cuba, the seeds were commonly poly embryonic, i. c. contained more 
than one embryo, and gave rise to as many as eight or ten plants. 
A microscopic examination of numerous young fruits showed that 
these several embryos were not the product of fertilization of the 
egg cell in the ovary (the normal method of producing new in- 
dividuals in all the higher plants), but that they arose as minute 
vegetative buds in the nucellar tissue surrounding the egg cell. The 
trees which they produce are, therefore, comparable to budded or 
grafted trees, in that they should reproduce more or less exactly the 
characteristics of the parent. Belling did not find a single embryo 
which had developed from a fertilized egg cell, but it is possible 
that the occasional trees of these well known seedling types which 
do not come true may have developed from fertilized egg cells, and 
would, therefore, be as capable of variation as ordinary seedlings 
of other tree fruits. It remains to be shown whether the egg cell 
ever develops into an embryo in polyembryonic mangos, and to what 
extent they may be affected by cross pollination. No investigations 
have been made with monoembryonic mangos, such as Mulgoba, 
Bennett and other grafted varieties grown in Florida and Cuba, 
but with these we are not concerned here. 

As Cuba was known to possess a large number of interesting races 
and types, it was thought worth while to devote the month of J uly 2 
1915 — the season during which most of tM mangos ripen — to a 
thorough investigation of Cuban mangos, in order to learn as much 
as possible concerning their relationships, productiveness and other 
' characteristics, and to bring to light choice types which might be 
worthy of propagation. This work was greatly facilitated by the 
hearty co-operation of the Cuban Sub-Secretary of Agriculture, Sr.. 
Arias, who appointed Sr. Gonzalo M Fortun, Ay ud ante Tecnico of 
the Departamento de Botanica at the Estacion Agronomica Experi- 
mental to travel with me through the island and assist in the inves- 
tigations. I am also greatly indebted to Prof. J. T. Crawley, 
Director of the Estacion Agronomica Experimental, and to Prof 
H. A. Van Hermann, Chief of the Division of Agricultural Vul- 
garisation of the Department of Agriculture, for valuable assistance 
in the work. 

Distribution of the Mango in Cuba. 

The mango is widely distributed throughout Cuba, but it was seen 
most abundantly in the region around Habana, where it is a con- 
spicuous feature of the landscape, and in the hills back of Santiago 

5 




SHOWING THE FRUITING HABITS OF THE MANGA AMARILLA TYPE. 
SANTIAGO DE LAS VEGAS. 



de Cuba, Toward Pinar del Rio, the tree was not seen as commonly 
as farther eastward, though for the first thirty or forty miles after 
leaving Habana it is abundant over the countryside. Between 
Habana and Matanzas the tree is fairly common, and it is rather 
extensively grown in some of the old Quintas of the Yumuri Val- 
ley, near Matanzas. Farther west in Matanzas province we found 
it less abundant. Around Santa Clara it is fairly abundant. At 
Cienfuegos there are a number of groves and quite a few scattering 
trees, but it is not so abundant outside the town as in some other 
sections of the island. At Trinidad, on the south coast a short dis- 
tance east of Cienfuegos, we found plenty of trees, many having 
become naturalized in the mountains from seeds dropped by the 
guajiros (countrymen), returning to their homes in the mountain 
valleys. Toward Camagiiey the trees were less frequent on the 
plains. Around the town of Camagiiey itself, however, the mango 
is fairly abundant, but the types are seemingly rather inferior. 
The nomenclature of the groups seems to change in this region, and 
the names applied in Habana. Matanzas, and Saiita Clara provinces, 
are no longer used. At Santiago de Cuba mangos are very abund- 
ant, and during the season they are hauled into the markets every 
morning by the cart load. Farther east in Oriente province, how- 
ever, we saw comparatively few trees, and at Guantanamo most ot 
the best mangos were being shipped in from Santiago de Cuba. 

The common seedling races, mango and manga, are pretty well dis- 
tributed throughout the island, and in most localities are practically 
the only ones grown. There are, however, a few places which pos- 
sess unusually choice types and are noted for them throughout the 
island. Chief among such places are Cienfuegos and Santiago de 
Cuba. With the exception of the Filipino, which is found around 
Habana and which I have never seen in eastern Cuba, the best man- 
gos of the island are probably grown near these two cities. In the 
outskirts of Cienfuegos there is a garden known as the Quinta 
Aviles, now the property of the Asturian Society, which contains a 
large number of old mango trees, including a wider range of types 
than I have seen in any other Cuban collection. The well known 
mango Chino and manga Mamey are found in this quinta, and 
from it the markets of Habana are supplied with fruits of both of 
these types. Mango Chino is now grown in other gardens near 
Cienfuegos, the seeds having been taken from the Quinta Avilee 

At Santiago de Cuba there are several types of very superior 
quality which are not quite so limited in distribution as are mango 
Chino and manga Mamey of Cienfuegos. Along the hillsides 
around El Caney, a few miles back of Santiago, are scattering trees 
of the type known as Biscochuelo, a fruit which I believe to be, 
everything considered, the most desirable seedling type which we 
studied. While inferior to Filipino in quality, it is a good fruit and 
so much more productive that it seems to me more valuable. The 
names Seilora and Obispo are applied to several large and fine types 
which are also found around Santiago. Corazon, Mamey and 
Toledo are common and well defined types, but of no great merit. 

7 



They were not observed elsewhere in the island. A considerable 
number of types appear to be peculiar to this region, and it seems 
to be the belief in Oriente that they were introduced by some of the 
French immigrants who came over from Haiti when they were 
driven out of that island by the blacks. 

Classification. 

The classification of mangos presents some interesting problems, 
and as yet very little has been done toward the solution of any of 
them. The subject is large, and will require an infinite amount of 
study, yet everything seems to indicate that we will, in time, be able 
to have a system which will bring out the relationships of different 
groups and be of practical value in studying varieties. For exam- 
ple, the Indian variety Sandersha is characterized by unusual pro- 
ductiveness. Two or three other varieties which have been grown 
in Florida appear to belong to the same group and are also unusual- 
ly productive for Indian mangos. It seems, then, that productive- 
ness is a characteristic of this group of varieties, and when we learn 
that a variety belongs to this group we can at once infer that it is 
likely to be fruitful. The various forms of Alphonse or Alfonzo. 
Indian mangos which are now grown in Florida, also seem to have 
much in common when it comes to bearing habits. The question 
may, therefore, be considered a practical one, and not unworthy of 
attention. 

First of all, it is necessary to emphasize the need of a natural 
system of classification, as opposed to an artificial or arbitrary one, 
in which mangos are grouped according to the shape of the fruit or 
some other character of this nature. Such a system, while per- 
haps useful, does not really meet our needs, and should be avoided. 
A system taking into consideration natural affinities of varieties or 
types, however, cannot fail to be of great value in our study of 
the mango. 

Arbitrary systems of classification have been proposed by one or 
two Indian pomologists, but have never been used. A few attempts 
have been made in India to classify varieties into natural groups, 
and these have been somewhat more successful, but they have never 
been carried far enough. The best known instance of a natural 
classification is probably that attempted by Maries, in Watt's 
Dictionary of Economic Products of India, but the field is so exten- 
sive that Maries probably covered but a small portion of it, and 
did not make a very thorough study of even that portion. 

In this country, practically the only effort to classify mangos is 
that which has been made by Professor Rolfs of Florida, and is set 
forth in his bulletin "Mangos in Florida" (Bui. 127, Fla. Agricul- 
tural Experiment Sta.). Prof. Rolfs has formed nine groups into 
which he places the mangos of the Miami region, both those of In- 
dian origin and the local seedling forms. This is an effort along the 
right line, but much remains to be done before the subject will be 
thoroughlv worked out. 

8 



In this attempt at classifying the principal steedling mangos of 
Cuba, an effort has been made to recognize relationship and degree 
of relationship as well. The first and broadest division is there- 
fore into groups for which I have used the term race; the second 
is into types, of which several may be comprised in one race. This 
classification has been made necessary by the fact that the manga 
blanca and manga amarilla of Cuba, though quite distinct, are evi- 
dently more closely related to each other, judging by characteris- 
tics of growth, inflorescence and fruit, than they are to any fruits 
of the mango race. As they are seedlings, however, we cannot ap» 
ply the term variety to them, and I have, therefore, termed them 
types. Some of these types correspond to the divisions Prof. Rolfs 
has termed groups, but for seedling fruits I believe the term tijpe 
is better. The word group rather implies an assemblage of related 
horticultural varieties or forms, while these seedling types such as 
manga amarilla, as seen in Cuba, are so constant that the term 
group does not seem fitting. In considering horticultural varieties, 
however, it would seem more natural to throw them together into 
groups, each group containing a number of allied varieties, or those 
having several characteristics in common. There is naturally some 
slight variation within each type and any of these variations, if 
propagated asexually (by budding or grafting) would constitute 
a true horticultural variety. 

This classification would comprise, then, three divisions ; the first 
and broadest one is races, the second seedling types, several of which 
may be included in one race, and the third horticultural varieties, 
which are propagated by budding or grafting, and of which sev- 
eral may be included in one type. 

Key to the Principal- Cuban Mangos. 

A. Tree erect, height 60 to 70 feet ; crown open, oval or ovate 
in form; panicle 8 to 12 inches long, the axis rather 
slender, reddish maroon; fruit strongly compressed 
laterally, with curved and beaked apex, color yellow, 
often blushed with crimson, the fiber long and coarse ; 
season June to July. 

Race 1. Mango. 

A A. Tree not erect, but spreading, height only 35 to 40 feet; 
crown not open, but dense, not oval or ovate but dome- 
shaped or flat-topped ; panicle shorter, 6 to 10 incheg 
long, the axis very stout, pale green, tinged red- 
dish ; fruit not strongly compressed, very plump, the 
beak wanting, color yellow to orange without reddish 
blush, fiber long and fine ; season July to August. 
Race 2. Manga. 

B. Fruit elongate, oval to ovate, deep orange-yellow, the 
flesh bright orange. 

Type 1. Manga amarilla. 





TYPICAL FRUIT OF THE MANGO RACE, SHOWING THE CHARACTERISTIC 
FORM. COMMON THROUGHOUT THE ISLANDS 



BB. Fruit nearly or quite as broad as long, decidedly 
oblique, bright yellow in color, the flesh whitish 
yellow. 

Type 2. Manga blanca. 

AAA. Tree erect, height only 30 or 35 feet; crown not open but 
very dense, oval or rounded ; panicle very long, 12 to 24 
inches, axis rather slender ; pale green, sometimes 
tinged reddish; fruit strongly compressed laterally but 
sharply pointed rather than curved and beaked at apex, 
color lemon yellow with no reddish blush, fiber short and 
scanty, usually limited to ventral edge of seed; season 
July to August. 

Race 3. Filipino. 



; )P W -S $r 



Race 1. Mango. 

The mango race is by far the commonest throughout Cuba. It 
seems, in fact, to be the common race in other parts of tropical 
America as well. In Florida it has become established (at least on 
the east coast, near Miami) under the name of "No. 11." The tree 
is easily distinguished from manga by its form, which is erect, tall, 
with the crown rather open, not dense and umbrageous as in both 
the manga and Filipino races. The fruit also is not difficult to dis- 
tinguish, being characterized by its elongated, curved form and 
compressed sides, making it decidedly reniform as a rule. The 
color varies from light yellow to crimson, there usually being a 
reddish blush on the cheek of yellow fruited forms. The flavor is 
not as sweet and rich as that of manga, hence the latter is nearly 
always preferred by the Cubans. The fiber is coarse and long, but 
not so abundant as in manga. This race is the first to ripen, coming 
into season in June (sometimes in May) ; by the time manga com- 
mences to ripen it is nearly gone by. It is much more subject to 
anthracnose than manga, and clean fruits are rarely obtainable. 
As a rule the fruits come into market badly stained with fungus, 
snd when they are fully ripe, the disease spreads rapidly and they 
are soon unfit for use.\ 

There seem to be no Avell-defined types of this race recognized in 
Cuba, though the fruit of different trees varies quite noticeably. 
Varietal names are often applied to individual trees. Mango 
manzana and mango corazon are two of the commonest names, these 
being applied to quite a number of forms. The race appears to 
have been established in Cuba a long time, and its origin is obscure. 

The flowers are produced on rather loose panicles 8 to 12 inches 
long, the axis bright reddish maroon. The lateral branches are 
rather scattering, and the flowers are not so crowded as in the 
manga race. The proportion of perfect to st.aminate flowers is 
good, but not as high as in the Filipino race. 




% 03 

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The characteristics of this fruit, as seen in Cuba, are as follows : 

Form varying from reniform to oblique-cordate, always somewhat 
compressed laterally and more or less beaked at the apex; length 
2% to 5 inches, weight 5 to 1 2 ounces ; shoulders rarely equal, the left 
shoulder usually high and broad, right shoulder falling more or less 
abruptly ; nak 14 to y 2 inch from longitudinal apex ; surface smooth, 
color yellow green, greenish yellow or deep yellow, often washed 
with carmine toward the basal end, the subcutaneous dots minute 
and inconspicuous, rather numerous ; skin thick and tough, of firm 
texture; flesh light orange yellow in color, very juicy, flavor sub- 
acid to sweet, not very rich nor piquant, the aroma very faint ; fiber 
abundant, long, coarse, extending from all parts of the seed ; quality 
rather poor; seed oblong-oblique, 3 to 3y 2 inches long, thick, con- 
taining 2 to 10 embryos, endocarp rather thin. 

It may be possible to consider Mango cliino of Cienfuegos and 
some of the other types of limited distribution as belonging to this 
race, but for the present I have kept them separate. The Cubans 
themselves usually speak of Chino as belonging to this class. The 
tree has the same characteristics of growth and the fruit is quite 
similar in nearly every way. 

I have classed this as a race, since it presents many more varia- 
tions than should be found in a type. Its seedlings in Cuba, how- 
ever, usually bear a strong resemblance to each other. 

Race 2. Manga. 

This race includes two distinct and widely distributed types in 
Cuba, and there are a number of minor types, such as Manga 
mamey of Cienfuegos, which are usually considered by the natives 
as belonging to this class. For the present, however, I have only in- 
cluded in it the two important types. 

The tree is easily distinguished from that of the mango race by 
its low and spreading form, dome-shaped or flat-topped, the crown 
being dense and not open as in mango. Usually it is not difficult to 
identify a tree of this race, unless it is growing under somewhat un- 
natural conditions — crowded among others, for example, so that it 
is forced to seek the light and hence grows abnormally tall. The 
fruit is not strongly compressed as in the mango race, being nearly 
or quite round in cross section, and the color is light to deep yellow 
or orange, the crimson blush being absent. The flesh is nearly con- 
colorous with the skin, and is of very sweet, rich flavor, generally 
preferred to that of mango; the fiber, however, forms a dense mass 
around the seed, and extends throughout the flesh. It is finer than 
in mango, and is so extremely abundant that the flesh is eaten with 
difficulty, hence the common practice of sucking the fruits. In sea^ 
son the race is practically one month later than mango, rarely com- 
ing in before the latter part of July. The keeping qualities are 
very good. The fruits are not affected by anthracnose to the same 
degree as are those of mango, and are nearly always clean when 
offered in the markets. The race is exceedingly productive, sur- 

13 



passing in this respect all other mangos with which I have come in 
contact. In eastern Cuba (Camagiiey province) it is known under 
the name of mango de hilacha, the classification of mango and 
manga not being recognized in that part of the island. In Oriente 
it seems to be extremely rare. 

The flowers are densely crowded on short, stiff panicles usually 
6 to 10. inches long, the axis being decidedly greenish. The tree 
blooms very profusely, but the proportion of perfect to staminate 
flowers is not as high as in the Filipino race. It agrees approxi- 
mately in this respect with the mango race. 

In southeastern Florida this race is predominant. The type 
amarilla, described below, is the commonest one found in the vicin- 
ity of Miami, and is usually called turpentine or peach mango. The 
type blanca is also grown, but not so extensively as amarilla; it is 
known as apple mango, or sometimes as Bombay. The Eleanor 
mango probably belongs to this same type, but of this I am not 
certain. 

Type 1. Manga amarilla. 

This is the commonest form, and seems to be a general favorite. 
It is very abundant around Habana and toward the end of July the 
fruit fills the markets of the city. It is of oval or ovate form, plump 
to almost round in cross section, sometimes slightly impressed on 
the ventral surface near the apex, but never distinctly beaked. The 
color is deep, bright orange-yellow, the flesh eoncolorous with the 
skin, and very juicy but fibrous. 

The type may be described as follows : 

General form oblong or oblong-ovate, rounded in cross section, the 
base slightly oblique with oftentimes a shallow, irregular cavity ; 
length 2 1 /* to 3y 2 inches, weight 4 to 8 ounces, left shoulder full, 
rounded, frequently with a broad ridge extending down the ven- 
tral edge of the fruit, right shoulder rounded to angular, not broad : 
apex rounded to broadly pointed, never prominently beaked and 
commonly depressed on the ventral surface around the slightly 
raised nak ; surface smooth to slightly undulating, deep orange-yel- 
low, sometimes blushed with dull salmon, and overspread with a 
thin grayish bloom, dots numerous, large, and conspicuous, as seems 
to be the rule in the manga race ; skin moderately thick and very 
tough, peeling readily from the flesh when the fruit is fully ripe; 
flesh bright orange in color, becoming very soft, pleasantly 
aromatic ; quality rather poor, flavor sweet, rich and very pleasant ; 
fibre abundant, fine, extending from all parts of the seed through 
the flesh ; seed oblong, rounded at both ends, 2% inches long, plump, 
containing 1 to 5 embryos, endocarp very thick and woody. 

Type 2. Manga blanca. 

Not as common as amarilla, but abundant around Habana and 
plentiful in the markets during the same season. It is somewhat 

14 



difficult of description, being oblique-cordate in form, decidedly 
oblique at the apex, and usually as broad as long. It is lighter in 
color than amarilla, and the flesh is whitish-yellow, whence the name 
manga blanca. It is scarcely as rich in flavor as amarilla, and not so 
popular, but is preferred to fruits of the mango race. From what 
I have seen of it I do not believe it is quite so prolific in fruiting 
as amarilla. The fiber is even more abundant than in the latter. 

It may be described as follows : 

Form oblique-cordate, broad and somewhat flattened at the 
base, obliquely flattened at the apex, not quite round in cross sec- 
tion; length 2y 2 to 3 inches, weight 5 to 8 ounces; left shoulder 
somewhat broader than right, cavity very shallow and broad ; apex 
rounded or slightly flattened, often depressed above the nak ; sur- 
face smooth, bright yellow to orange-yellow, with very large and 
conspicuous dots ; skin thick and quite tough, peeling readily from 
the flesh when the fruit is fully ripe ; flesh pale whitish-yellow, very 
juicy, faintly aromatic, quality poor; flavor sweet and pleasant; 
fiber very abundant, fine, extending from all parts of the seed 
through the flesh; seed broadly oval, nearly 2 inches long, plump, 
containing 2 to 5 embryos, the endocarp not quite so thick and hard 
ai in amarilla. 

Race 3. Filipino. 

The fruits of this race are of unusually good quality, and it is 
unfortunate that the trees should be unproductive. To the Ameri- 
can palate, there is probably no mango in the island equal to a good 
Filipino, but the Cubans usually seem to prefer a sweeter, richer 
fruit. Trees of the Filipino race are not common, and though dis- 
tributed pretty generally over the western part of the island, they 
are grown in small numbers and the fruit is never very abundant in 
the markets. 

This race has undoubtedly come to Cuba from the Philippines, 
probably by way of Mexico, where it is grown to a limited extent 
under the name of Manila mango. The fruit is nearly free from 
the objectionable fiber which characterizes most seedling mangos, 
and is of a delicious, spicy flavor which is exceedingly agreeable. 
Occasional trees are found in gardens as far west as Matanzas and 
Cienfuegos; we failed to find any in eastern Cuba but it is quit* 
probable that a few exist. In Florida the race has become fairly 
well known under the name of Philippine, a shipment of seeds from 
Cuba having given rise to most of the old seedlings which are now 
found near Miami. Were it not so unproductive it would be a re- 
markably valuable seedling race. 

The tree is erect and resembles that of the manga race more than 
mango, having an oval or dome-shaped crown (not flat-topped aj 
in manga), with dense foliage. It is small, rarely attaining more 
than 30 or 35 feet in height. The leaves are frequently very large. 
The fruit is unique in form — long, slender and sharply pointed at 
the apex, distinctly flattened laterally, while the color is always 
greenish-yellow or when fully ripe lemon-yellow. The flesh is 

15 




TYPICAL FRUIT OP THE FILIPINO RACE. 
MATANZAS PROVINCE. 



JOVELLANOS 



meaty, of spicy, piquant flavor, with fiber only along' the ventral 
edge of the seed. The season corresponds to that of manga. An- 
thracnose rarely attacks the fruits to a serious degree, and they are 
usually clean and attractive in appearance. 

The flowers are produced in extremely long, rather loose panicles, 
1 to 2 feet in length, the axis being light green, sometimes 
tinged with red. The proportion of perfect to staminate flowers is 
higher than in any other race I have examined, 75 per cent in some 
instances. The bearing habits of the tree are puzzling, and require 
much investigation. 

The characteristics of the fruit are as follows: 

Form rather variable, but in general slender oblong, compressed 
laterally, somewhat narrowed and oblique at the base and sharply 
pointed at the apex ; length 4 to 6 inches, weight 6 to 12 ounces ; left 
shoulder broad but not high, right shoulder falling abruptly ; apex 
sharply pointed, sometimes curved slightly toward ventral side of 
fruit ; nak scarcely distinguishable ; surface smooth, pale greenish- 
yellow or lemon-yellow, dots numerous, small, inconspicuous; skin 
very thin, tough ; flesh bright yellow-orange, extremely juicy, 
smooth, almost free from fiber, aroma faint but agreeable ; quality 
good ; flavor piquant, delicious ; fiber coarse, confined to ventral edge 
of the seed; seed oblong, 3 to -4 inches long, thin, containing 5 to 6 
embryos, the endocarp very thin and easily broken. 

There seem to be no types of this race recognized in Cuba. The 
fruits from various trees are remarkably uniform in character, but 
in the native home of the race Wester has described three distinct 
types, Carabao, Pico, and Pahutan. A horticultural variety, Cecil, 
has been propagated in Florida from one of the trees grown from 
Cuban seed. The Cambodiana mango of Florida appears to belong 
to this race. Prof. Rolfs uses the name Cambodiana for the entire 
group, in which he includes all the types above named, as well as 
Meulmein, a seedling grown near Miami, which I have not seen. 

Types of Limited Distribution. 

The following types are of very limited distribution, and for this 
reason have not been included in the general classification. It is 
difficult in some cases to determine the races in which they should 
be placed, and it is probably safer, therefore, not to place them 
definitely until further studies of their characteristics have been 
made. 

Biscochuelo. 

santiago de cuba. 

This is a very distinct type and undoubtedly the best grown at 
Santiago de Cuba. Considered from every point of view it would 
seem to be, in fact, the most desirable type in the Island of Cuba. 
While it is more fibrous than the Filipino race, and of a less piquant 
flavor, it has the great advantage of being productive, which more 

17 




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than outweighs the points against it. Its origin is obscure, but it 
is quite probable that it was introduced from Santo Domingo by 
the French settlers. It is grown rather commonly in the hills back 
of Santiago, especially around El Caney, and is abundant in the 
markets during July, selling for $2.00 per 100. Its affinities do not 
seem to lie with either the mango or manga races. 

The fruit is broadly oval, weighing 8 to 14 ounces and of a clear 
orange-yellow color, rarely stained by anthracnose. The flesh is firm 
and meaty, fibrous around the ventral edge of the seed but else- 
where almost free from fiber, and of a rich, sweet flavor which is 
/ery pleasant. It keeps well and is often shipped to Habana. It 
seems well worth propagating elsewhere in the island. 

It may be described as follows : 

Form oval to sub-reniform, decidedly oblique, length 3 to 4 inches, 
weight 8 to 14 ounces; left shoulder rounded to very broad and 
marked by a deep suture which extends down the ventral surface 
of the fruit 1-4 or 1-3 of the distance to the apex, right shoulder 
usually falling abruptly, sometimes marked by a shallow suture; 
apex somewhat wedge-shaped, broad, with sometimes a tendency 
toward a beak, the nak prominent; surface smooth, clear, light 
orange-yellow in color, with very numerous small russet dots ; skin 
thick and tough ; flesh bright orange-yellow; very firm and meaty, 
juicy, the aroma not pronounced but very pleasant; quality good*; 
flavor unusually pleasant, very sweet even when the fruit is rather 
hard; fiber objectionable around the ventral side of the fruit, slight 
on the sides; seed reniform, 2% to 3 inches long, plump, containing 
3 to 5 embryos. 

Chino. 

cienfuegos. 

This is a famous fruit, originally grown in the Quinta Aviles at 
Cienf uegos and now produced in a few other gardens as well. It is 
probably the largest seedling mango in Cuba, and is well known in 
Habana markets, where single specimens sell for 20 to 40 cents. 
Size is its principal virtue,, however, for it is fibrous and rather 
lacking in flavor. 

The people of Cienfuegos class this as mango, and the habit of the 
tree as well as some of the characteristics of the fruit are distinctly 
those of the mango race. 

It may be described as follows : 

General form broad cordate, very plump, usually somewhat 
oblique at base ; length 3 to 5 V 2 inches ; weight 12 to 20 ounces ; cav- 
ity shallow, broad, somewhat irregular ; shoulders sometimes nearly 
equal, but more often the left one broad and rather high, the right 
rounded and falling; apex rounded, the nak slightly raised, ^ 
inch above longitudinal apex; surface smooth, greenish-yellow to 
dull cream colored, overspread around the base with light red, the 
dots numerous, very small and inconspicuous; skin usually thick 
and tough; flesh deep yellow in color, orange-yellow toward the 

19 




A FRUIT OP MANGO CHINO WEIGHING 16 OZ. PROM THE QUINTA AVILES, 
CIENFUEGOS. ONE OP THE LARGEST CUBAN TYPES. 



seed, and of very firm, meaty texture, juicy, with faint aroma; 
quality fair ; flavor sub-acid, spicy ; fiber abundant throughout the 
flesh ; seed oval, rather thin, 2% to 3 inches long, containing 4 to 6 
embryos. 

The season of ripening corresponds with that of the mango race, 
as do the bearing habits of the tree. 

Mamey. 
cienfuegos. 

Another type grown in the Quinta Aviles at Cienfuegos, and of 
better quality than Chino, though not so well known in Habana as 
the latter. It is classed by the natives as manga, because of the 
habit- of the tree and the general character of the fruit. It is 
smaller than Chino, but of somewhat more attractive color, as a 
rule, and of sweeter, richer flavor. 

General form broadly cordate, not as plump laterally as many 
fruits of the manga race, length and breadth nearly equal; length 
3 to 3!/2 inches, weight 8 to 12 ounces ; base flattened, very slightly 
oblique; cavity narrow, flaring, almost regular; right shoulder 
somewhat broader and higher than the left ; apex with a suggestion 
of a beak, the nak not prominent, y 4 inch above longitudinal apex ; 
smooth surface, greenish orange-yellow to orange-yellow in color, 
blushed around the base with reddish salmon, dot3 large, conspicu- 
ous, fairly numerous; skin thick and tough; flesh bright orange- 
yellow, firm and very meaty; moderately juicy, with very little 
aroma ; quality fairly good, flavor sub-acid, rich, pleasant ; fiber not 
very objectionable except around ventral edge of seed ; seed oblong, 
rather thick, 2y 2 inches long, containing 2 to 5 embryos, the endo- 
carp thick and woody. 

The productiveness of this type, while not as good as that of 
manga amarilla, seems to be satisfactory. The season corresponds 
to that of manga amarilla. 

While Chino and Mamey are the two best known mangos in the 
Quinta Aviles, there are a number of other types which are known 
by name, and some of which may have been propagated. A few 
trees of the Filipino race are growing in this quinta, and also trees 
of a long slender fruit erroneously called Filipino. (Others which 
may be mentioned but which are not worth describing, are the 
following : 

Mango de Olor 

Garcia 

Melocoton 

Manga manzana 

Cana 

Crema 

Morado 

21 




MANGA MAMEY, FROM THE QUINTA AVILES, CIENFUEGOS. A HANDSOME 
FRUIT OF GOOD QUALITY. 



COBAZON. 
SANTIAGO DE CUBA. 

This is one of the commonest types in the markets of Santiago, 
but is not a fruit of great merit. Its relationships are difficult to 
determine. 

It may be described as follows : 

General form oblong-cordate to broad-cordate; length 3 to Zy 2 
inches, weight 5 to 8 ounces ; base varying from level, flattened, with 
the shoulders equal, the stem inserted in a shallow cavity, to oblique, 
the left shoulder high and rounded, the right shoulder falling 
gradually ; apex broadly pointed, sometimes almost beaked, in other 
instances rounded, nak depressed ; surface smooth, greenish-yellow 
to dull yellow in color, sometimes tinged with salmon near the base, 
the dots medium large, rather conspicuous ; skin rather thin ; flesh 
bright yellow-orange, very juicy, the aroma pronounced and very 
pleasant; quality poor; flavor piquant, sweet, rich; fiber very ob- 
jectionable, abundant throughout the flesh ; seed oblong reniform, 
2y 2 inches long, plump, containing 3 to 5 embryos. 

Mamey. 

santiago de cuba. 

This name is applied to various types throughout the island ; it is, 
in fact, one of the commonest names given to seedling forms. The 
Mamey of Santiago de Cuba is an important and well defined type, 
however, and is therefore deserving of description. It is not a fruit 
of any great merit, but is very abundant in the markets. 

It may be described as follows : 

Form oblong-oval, slightly oblique, plump ; length 2y 2 to Sy 2 
inches, weight 4 to 8 ounces; cavity very shallow, left shoulder 
rather high and broad, right shoulder falling gradually ; apex blunt, 
the nak slightly depressed; surface smooth, greenish-yellow to deep 
yellow in color, sometimes tinged with salmon near the base, dots 
rather conspicuous, skin rather thin but tough ; flesh bright yellow- 
orange, very juicy, the aroma pronounced and very pleasant ; qual- 
ity poor ; flavor piquant, sweet, rich, very pleasant ; fiber abundant, 
long, throughout the flesh ; seed oblong-reniform, about 2y 2 inches 
long, containing 3 to 5 embryos. 

Toledo. 

santiago de cuba. 

This is a small fruit, of rather unattractive appearance. It is 
common in the markets of Santiago de Cuba, however, and is well 
defined, the name being applied to this one type only. 

23 




SEEDLING TREE OF MANGO CHINO IN FRUIT, QUINTA AVILES, CIENFUEGOS. 



It is characterized as follows : 

Form ovate-oblique to ovate-reniform ; length 2 1 /* inches, 
weight 2 to 4 ounces; base oblique, the left shoulder high and 
rounded, the right shoulder falling abruptly ; apex broadly pointed 
to rounded, having the suggestion of a beak ; surface smooth, green- 
ish-orange in color, dots almost none ; skin moderately thick ; flesh 
light yellow, very juicy with a strong aroma; quality poor; flavor 
aromatic, sweet, pleasant; fiber very abundant throughout the 
flesh ; seed oblong-reniform, 2 inches long, containing 3 or 4 embryos. 

Other Types at Santiago de Cuba: There are quite a number of 
types cultivated in the vicinity of Santiago de Cuba besides those 
just described, but none of them seems to be very common, and the 
names applied to them are used so indefinitely that it is impossible 
to define the types. The name Senora is well known in the markets, 
and is applied to a number of large fruits, more or less similar in 
character, and of fine appearance but fibrous. Obispo is another 
name similarly used. Mameyzon is applied to several fruits 
resembling the manga mamey of Cienfuegos. Papelina is a small, 
greenish fruit of inferior quality which does not seem to be common 
and is not worthy of notice. Rosita is another very small fruit, 
something like Toledo, with a reddish cheek. We found specimens 
of it in the markets of Guantanamo. 

Cuban Mangos in Florida. 

Considering the proximity of Florida and Cuba, and the frequent 
communication between the two regions in the early days by means 
of sailing vessels, it is but natural that Florida should have received 
most of her seedling mangos from Cuba. Mention has already been 
made of several Cuban types which commonly occur in Florida, but 
in order to bring them all together a list of the commonest ones is 
here given : 

Mango Race: This has become fairly common in southeastern 
Florida under the name of No. 11, and is said to have been intro- 
duced from Jamaica. Prof. Rolfs describes this race under the 
name of "No. 11 group," and mentions one named variety which 
has been propagated. 

Manga Race: The majority of seedlings in southeastern Florida 
are of this race. 

Manga amarilla Type: This is the principal one grown in the 
Miami region, and is usually called "turpentine mango," some- 
times "peach mango." The fruits of most of the trees around 
Miami are remarkably uniform in character. Prof. Rolfs does not 
define this group separately, but it appears to be included in his 
"turpentine group." 

Manga blanca Type: This includes the seedlings known in the 
vicinity of Miami as "apple" mango and "Bombay" mango. It is 
fairly abundant, but less so than the manga amarilla type. The 
"Bombay group" of Prof. Rolfs belongs to this type, and probably 
the "Eleanor group" also. 

25 



Filipino Race: This is fairly well known around Miami under 
the name of Philippine mango, numerous trees having been grown 
from Cuban seeds. One named variety, the Cecil, has been propa- 
gated by budding. The Cambodiana mango, introduced by the De- 
partment of Agriculture, also belongs to this race. It corresponds 
to the ' ' Cambodiana group ' ' established by Prof. Rolfs. 

A thorough study of the Indian mangos cultivated in Florida has 
not yet been made for the purpose of classifying them, but we are 
beginning to find that many of them fall naturally into types. Prof. 
Rolfs has made a beginning at classification by establishing the San- 
dersha, Mulgoba, and Gola groups. The several Alphonse mangos 
fall naturally into one group, and exhibit many characteristics in 
common. A study of these mangos in India would doubtless pro- 
duce more satisfactory results than an attempt to classify them from 
the few varieties which we are now cultivating in this country. 



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